Local News Archives

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says they have confirmed 8,831 new cases of COVID-19 in the past week. That is an average of around 1,262 a day. There were 113 people who lost their

Sheriff’s deputies from Ottawa County have found the body of Avel Martinez of Allegan County. Martinez was found near the shore of Lake Michigan in Park Township near Riley Street and Lakeshore Avenue on Monday, not far

Another major chain restaurant in Berrien County bites the dust. Papa Johns Pizza, 4068 Red Arrow Highway in St. Joseph Charter Township has closed for good, according to a note posted to its front window on Tuesday. 

Lake Michigan College is seeking some artwork related to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as it prepares for its annual MLK Celebration Week, scheduled for January 14 through January 20. LMC says it’s in need of art

A Cass County resident has been hospitalized after trying to avoid an animal in the roadway. At about 6 a.m. Tuesday morning, Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke reports that his officers were called to investigate a personal

From craft connoisseurs to casual sippers, one local event is sure to bring beer lovers out of hibernation this winter. St. Joseph Today announced Tuesday that the St. Joe Winter Beer Fest will be returning to downtown

An organization that works to protect the health of the Paw Paw and Black River watersheds will hold its annual meeting next week in Lawrence. Two Rivers Coalition President Sam Ewbank tells us the group cleans up

Indiana Michigan Power is planning to invest $41 million in a project to rebuild and upgrade electric services in southwestern Michigan and northern Indiana. The South Bend-Niles Transmission Line Project involves updating a power substation and about

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department is conducting an enhanced enforcement period in search of drivers who are going too fast. The department says since the pandemic began more than two years ago, police agencies across Michigan have

Congressman Bill Huizenga is ready to get to work representing southwest Michigan in Washington once the new term of Congress starts in January. He was just elected to represent the Fourth District, which covers northern Berrien County

The bears are once again in the air. South Bend International Airport Director Mike Daigle tells us the 2022 Bears in the Air campaign launched Tuesday with the first donations of funds and Teddy bears received at

From the Associated Press — President Joe Biden is telling Americans he is a “pro-union” president, just a day after he sided with business leaders in asking Congress to pass legislation to stave off a crippling rail

The Niles Scream Park has raised a total of $134,000 for southwest Michigan non-profits with its 49th season. The 44-acre attraction on Mayflower Road between Niles and Buchanan just wrapped up the year and says the funds

By Ryan Yuenger ryany@wsjm.com A collection of popular Chicago drag queens is headed to southwest Michigan for the first time. The Stay Dowagiac Collective of short-term rental properties is hosting the first-ever Drag Brunch in Dowagiac this

Dowagiac’s famous Candle-light Parade is returning this Friday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m., with a tree lighting ceremony in Beckwith Park at 6 p.m. The well-attended parade features more than 100 Christmas-themed floats, as well as Santa

Mike Coppola/Getty Images for The Gotham Film & Media Institute (NOTE LANGUAGE) Adam Sandler was on hand in New York City at the annual Gotham Awards Monday night, but his teen daughters Sadie and Sunny were not.

If you’re traveling in a rural part of Michigan with a higher speed limit, you might be able to get to your destination faster, but that comes at a price. According to a new study by Michigan

A “preventable” tragedy is how two former members of the Oxford Community Schools board are now describing the fatal shooting of four students inside of Oxford High School one year ago tomorrow. Korey Bailey resigned as treasurer

The Insurance Service Office has upgraded the fire protection rating for the area served by South Haven Area Emergency Services as of March 1, 2023. SHAES executive director Brandon Hinz says by securing lower fire insurance premiums

Michigan State Police have got their eyes on commercial vehicles on I-94 this week. State police are teaming up with their counterparts in Indiana and Illinois for Eyes on 94 all week, an annual enforcement period. Sergeant

A fundraiser for a planned Benton Heights community center is set for this coming weekend at two downtown St. Joseph restaurants. New Heights Christian Community Development Association Director Chris Britton tells us Schu’s and Tim’s Too are

A local restaurant has abruptly closed. The Sonic Drive-In near the I-94 exit on M-139 in Benton Township has closed permanently. The restaurant opened in 2015, after the demolition of the former Bill Knapp’s and Maxton Motors.  “Our

It’s a Christmas tradition in southwest Michigan. Around 100 volunteers gathered at Wahmhoff Farms in Gobles on Monday to load up trucks with free Christmas trees for military personnel as part of the Trees for Troops campaign.

The results from the November 8 election have been formally certified in Lansing before the Michigan Board of State Canvassers. The board voted 4 to 0 to certify the results Monday. However, the meeting was not without

A celebrity from southwest Michigan has provided an update two years after a serious medical emergency. The family of Benton Harbor native David Adkins – commonly known as the Sinbad – announced last week that the actor

From the Associated Press — Two former school board officials say policies and procedures that could have prevented a mass shooting that left four students dead at a Michigan high school last year were approved earlier but

After an annual performance review on Monday, Saint Joseph Superintendent Jenny Fee has received a Highly Effective rating overall for the 2022 year. “Given the difficulty of the past year, the Board could not have asked for